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“Oh, Neo wanted to chat with her. She’s in his office. We brought you lunch.” Holly holds up a brown paper bag. Whatever is in it smells fucking amazing. Just then my stomach growls, and I look at my watch to see I’ve been sitting here, behind this computer, for hours without stopping.
Holly’s words sink in, and within seconds, I’m out of my seat.She’s in his office.My sister’s in Neo’s office… No fucking way is he getting his grubby fucking hands on her. I know exactly what my cousin does with the women in his office. “I’ll be right back, dolcezza. Why don’t you two set up on the conference table over there?” I point to the seating area off to the side of the room.
“Ah, sure. Come on, Izzy, you can help.”
I storm out the door, and fucking Brittany follows me. “Mr. Valentino, is there anything I can get you?”
“No, but don’t ever try to stop my wife from entering my office again. You won’t like the consequences if you do.” I throw open the door to Neo’s office.
He’s leaning against his desk. Angelica is sitting in the chair in front of him. He looks at his watch. “Two minutes. You owe me a hundred.” He extends a hand to Angelica, who grunts as she pulls out a hundred-dollar bill from her bag and slams it into Neo’s open palm.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I ask. “Andthis—yeah, not fucking happening. I will fucking shoot you first.” I point between them, but direct the threat to Neo.
Angelica stands and places her hands on her hips. “No, you don’t get to roll in on your high horse and try to scare guys away. If I want to screw his brains out, guess what? I will. If I want to sleep my way through all of your men, I will. My body is mine to do with as I please. Not yours, or anyone else’s.”
“You’re right.Youcan do whatever you want, Angelica.” I nod my head at her. “But so can I. And if I want to put a bullet between the eyes of each and every man who’s stupid enough to touch you, if I have to kill every last one of them, that’s my fucking choice.”
“Oh my God, you’re worse than Papa. I don’t even know you. And you don’t know me. Why do you care who I’m sleeping with?” Her arms fold under her chest. I don’t miss how Neo’s fucking eyes are drawn straight to her cleavage.
“No!” I point to him again. “I don’t need to know you. You’re my sister, Angelica. Family is everything to me. You’re now a part of that.”
I see her resolve slowly dissipate. “I wish you were a sister. I would have liked a sister better. Thank God you came with Holly.”
“She’s the best part of me.” I shrug. “Come on, she’s waiting for us.”
* * *
Holly left with Angelica and Isabella not long after we finished lunch. But not before Angelica dropped the bomb that her father was in town. My biological father. What the fuck is Al Donatello doing in New York? He has rarely stepped a foot out of Italy in all the years I’ve been old enough to know who the fuck he is.
I’m back behind my desk, going over reports and trying to focus on business, while my mind is set on trying to figure out how to put an end to this fucking mafia war bullshit. I’ve always loved my dark underworld, loved the lifestyle, the job, the money, the cars, the women. But now, being at the head of it all, trying to keep the whole fucking family in check… it’s fucking draining. It’s just one fucking issue after another. Staring out the window, I wonder what it would be like to leave it all behind. Get new identities and find a fucking deserted island somewhere. I couldn’t do that to Holly though. I couldn’t tear her away from her family. I run a hand over my face. Turning back to the computer, I attempt to skim the report on the screen. The sound of my phone shrills through the silent room.
“Valentino.”
“T? I don’t have long, but you need to listen to me.”
I straighten in my chair. “L? Where the fuck are you, and where’ve you been? Neo said he hasn’t heard from you since you left Italy.”
“I know. I’ve been on the DL. I’m fine. I’m staying with Alexei. But listen… I heard something. From my uncle. He said something about the Clover being in bed with Hal and Leo. He said they’ve put a hit out on you.” I laugh in response. I can’t help it. “It’s not funny, T. I’m serious,” Lana hisses through the receiver.
“I know, L. Look, I’m fine. Neo’s fine. We’ll be fine. Let the fuckers try to come for me. I can’t fucking wait. Where are you anyway? Are you safe?”
“Are you worried about me, T?” she questions.
“Not at all. You’re like a cat. You have many fucking lives.”
“Thanks. I’m fine. I’m just laying low with Alexei. Can you believe I’m getting married?”
“You really think your families are going to let this happen? You running off and marrying a fucking Russian?”
“Well, it’s happening, and I honestly don’t think they care too much anymore. Dad’s gone. My brother’s gone. I’m not of any concern to anyone.”
“You’re wrong. Neo happens to care about you a lot,” I tell her.
“Yeah, just Neo? Look, I’ve gotta go, but give Holly my best, and tell Neo to stop worrying.”
“Yeah, okay. Be smart, L. Don’t do anything without first considering the consequences. Again.” I hang up the phone and shut down my computer. I need to get out of this fucking office. I need to get home to my wife. Tomorrow is Sonnie’s funeral, and I know it’ll be a hard day for her. It could just be the thing to send her spiraling. Neo was right. It’s not normal to be so…okaywith everything that happened in Italy.
You don’t get assaulted and almost raped, shoot and kill your attacker, and walk away without a backwards glance. She’s been acting like everything is fine, likesheis fine. I wonder if it’s just that.An act. Surely, I’d be able to tell if she wasn’t all right. I know her. I know her fucking soul. I would be able to tell if anything was bothering her. Well, more than my usual fuckups anyway.
